by Susan Itell | Sep 5, 2015 | Christmas, Simple Saturday, Super Easy |
It's the weekend and it is the holiday weekend! I hope that if you are traveling, that you have fun…make lots of memories but please be safe! You all really do not need me on this card as it is SUPER-DE-DUPER simple but I think it carries a HUGE PUNCH……what do you think!
I am all about being clean and simple and this is a "Susan Card" – it makes me smile, it was easy, it is affordable, it is classic! I would be proud to send this card out and just think of all of the different colors you could use! Today, I chose Night of Navy as I adore a classic Navy and White!
Before we get to the card….I need to say a very heartfelt thanks to so many that have left a comment, sent me emails etc….about my dear sweet Eddie…..I was so happy that he ate last night and seems happy. He had gone for many days without eating and I think that he was super weak from that and then his "Ball Game" with his brothers was too much for him….but please know he is happy.
Our Vet did not think that he would have been with us last Thanksgiving and John and I were hoping and praying that he would hang on until the kids came home. Well….he did and as a family we decided that we would not put him through a surgery and chemotherapy…..he not only hates going to the Vets, he actually does not like leaving our farm (except going in the truck to the dump)….so Eddie will be here and be happy until I can see it in his eyes that it is time!
O.k. – sorry for rambling on but you all know by now my animals are a very important part of my life and I deeply thank you for your concerns and Eddie feels super special that he has so many that are thinking of him!
This is a super straight forward card and we need to talk about "bundles" – Bundles are groupings of (2) products that Stampin' Up! puts together for you to purchase as one unit and you will get an instant 15% off.
In the "scrolling store" below, I am only sharing with you these as a bundle as I feel so strongly that the IS the best way to purchase this! You can purchase them separately and there are times that I honestly have not taken advantage of a bundle….but this on – a total keeper!
Today's clean and simple card is a vertical A-2 card in the THICK Whisper White Card-stock. If you have not used this yet….hit that shop now and put it in the cart – you will never go back to the regular for your card bases….but I still use the other for many things – stamping sentiments…etc….
The Night of Navy is just 1/4 smaller and I scored it all the way around, (1 notch in) oops – I forgot to put the Simply Scored in the scrolling store! I use this soooo much, I know that the Stampin Trimmer also scores but I think that this is much deeper for the effect that I was going for!
I took the ornament framelit and made a cut and then added a piece of gold paper behind before I adhered it to the base! Oops again, I used the tear & Tape Adhesive to do this! I ADORE this adhesive…a keeper!
The "merry" was cut out twice with the Vanilla Coaster Board and then once in the navy. This is a great way to make a statement and it really does not take too much extra time….well worth it!
I adore each and every sentiment framelit that comes out…to me they are a great anchor for a clean and simple card!
As I said yesterday, we have some amazing paper in the new catalog, and the below picture will help you see that this paper stack is beautiful! I used the "green glue" to adhere the liner to the envelope…just on the gold stripes to conceal it!
Doesn't this make a great card! The vellum just sets it off….adds a classic and crisp look! Triple OOPS, I forgot the envelope liner in the store…..Silly Susan!
Now that is it my friends…..don't you agree that this really is a SIMPLE SATURDAY card that YOU can make? I do hope that you will pop back tomorrow and see how I "stepped it up a bit" – sometimes we like added touches….sometimes we don't!
Have a fun Saturday, have fun if you are away and please have fun….we are "hanging out" here at home doing nothing but everything at the same time! I love not having a schedule and being with John and the animals will be a fabulous weekend!
Eddie thanks you for your kindness and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Aug 29, 2015 | Halloween, Simple Saturday, SNEAK PEEK!!! |
Happy Weekend and do I have a fun and simple card for you!!! When I saw the new catalog, I knew that this was coming to Randall Lane! I just LOVE those single stamps…so affordable and this one is over the top FUN!
I realize that there is a very "short window" for Halloween and this Tuesday when the new catalog is available to order from….ORDER THIS!I have to admit, when I was stamping this image I did love the "feel" of a wooden block ~ maybe we need to have another blog post about how we are feeling about the choices of wood, clear and photopolymer!
You can clearly see that this makes a super cute card…but this would also be great using a "single broom" along with another Halloween stamp or even with a house warming card with a gift card from Lowes or Home Depot…that would be a fun idea!
So simple….you do not need me (well, I hope that you feel that you need me) – but really ~ this is an A-2 Vertical Card in Very Vanilla….I chose this neutral as it works perfectly with the A M A Z I N G Happy Haunting Designer Series Paper….There is not one print in this pack that I do not go nuts over – just fabulous!
You can see that I stamped the fun image on a piece of scraps and then did a random cut….LOVE doing this – it is a trick that I used to do when I scrap-booked as I could not cut a straight line….so random worked! Matting it on Tangelo Twist was easy-peasy!
The layer is 1/4" smaller, 4" X 5 1/4" and then I used the Simply Scored and scored 2 lines on each side….SUPER EASY….SUPER EFFECTIVE! The stampin' dimensionals were a huge impact to add fun and interest to the tone on tone of the very vanilla.
Below…just "gander" at this A M A Z I N G collection of paper….this is another MUST HAVE on Tuesday!
You have heard me say this time and time again….do not stress about making the "free~hand" cutting ….just do it and do not think about being perfect – trust me – it ALWAYS works out….just keep going until you get to your starting point!
Do you agree…the double scoring really makes this card? So fast, so simple, so easy, so cute!
Remember, creating a card does not need to be stressful – it needs to be FUN and it needs to be fulfilling. This is such a basic card that carries a big punch!
The finale – the beloved envelope! IS this so stinkin' cute – and look how fun! Please email me if you do not smile when you see polka dots….it's like an instant party!
The stripe of Tangelo Twist is 1/4" and then the 2" DSP adhered with the "Green Glue" is the recipe! (This way I can get 12 envelopes from a sheet of DSP)
Well…..thoughts my friends????Please leave me a comment and let me know how you like today's card! This is a "Susan Card" – holding true to my style of paper crafting but please make sure that you pop back tomorrow to see the stepped up version!
Thanks for all of the super sweet comments for Aunt Jean – guess what that dear James did…..he sent her an Edible Arrangement (fruit) and WOW – she was soooo touched – I told you he is a keeper! Guess what? She is leaving with a friend on Monday to go to Canada for 10 days….I think that is just GREAT to be 88 and still have so much life ahead!
Enjoy the day, email me if you need me…..feel free to shop away on my online store….(I am like Walmart – open 24 hours a day!!!!)
Until tomorrow! BOO!!!!
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by Susan Itell | Aug 22, 2015 | Simple Saturday, Super Easy |
My kids….I just have to love them….it was Hannah's turn to come to me earlier this week and say, "Mom – can you make me some thank-yous to send to the professors that worked with me in Boston?" Naturally I said sure but then there were specific requests!
- Can you make them super simple…
- Can you not put flowers on them because I am sending them to men…
- I do want them to be fun and look like something that I would like…
- Can you give me enough room to write a bunch because I have a lot to say….
I truly wish that you all could meet Hannah….she is a piece of work…a beautiful and special young lady and a very smart one! She is a Biology Major at a very small college in North Carolina and was given an incredible opportunity to meet for 3 days with some Harvard Professors that are helping her with her thesis that she is writing next year.
I truly do not know where she came from as her siblings all look at her and say – Where did she come from….she adored being with her big brother and when I would call Will and say – How's it going with Hannah? – He would say GREAT….she is in science heaven!
Enough….let's get to this card! There are a couple of things (well honestly, many things) that I adore about this card.
I I I I love that it is…..
- ZOOM – super fast and Easy
- Colors are fun
- Love…LOVE the (2) stamp sets…….Watercolor Thank You and You've Got This
- It is an odd size, 4 1/2" square
- ANYONE would love to receive it!
We all need to have "secret weapons" like this card…Just think of how quickly that this card came together and think about what a fabulous "stash" it would be to have in many color combinations etc….
The key is to pick 2 shades of colors that are in the "same church…different pew" I used Pool Party and Bermuda Bay. The other trick is to stamp off the pool party once to make it a bit lighter and then the Bermuda Bay will really…..really POP!
Now you have heard me blog this week about this…..the weekly deals – this envelope punch board is a HANDS DOWN….YOU NEED IT! It is only $15.00 this week and remember, the deal ends on Monday night!
I simply do not know where to start with this great product….naturally it makes envelopes, but it also makes all sorts of 3-D super cute items (pop back on Monday as that is what the post is about)
I know that we all have a great background stamp, today was the fabulous cross thatch from the You've Got This…..but if you do not have a stamp like this….how about inking up a stamp block? Do you remember when we used to do that all of the time….it is a great way to add a great effect!
I think that we all can agree…this IS super simple but at the same time SUPER cute! It is totally o.k to keep things simple. Sometimes I think that we all "over think" and keep adding more and more and then get frustrated! Does this sound familiar?
Please pop back tomorrow and you will see some simple, quick and effective changes that will step todays card up…and there is no doubt that you will say – "I can do that"!!!
Until tomorrow….for Step it up Sunday!!
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by Susan Itell | Aug 15, 2015 | 3-D Projects, Simple Saturday |
Good weekend morning! It’s back – the (2) day challenge that many of you look forward to and love. Saturday I call it “Simple Saturday” and pop back tomorrow to see “Step it up Sunday” as I take the same card and make some minor changes to show you how “little things” can make a difference!
I can hear each of you right now saying…..THIS CARD IS NOT SIMPLE…well hold on to your thoughts as it really is an easy card and one that fits in a regular envelope, it does not require extra postage and you are sure to get a bunch of rave reviews when you send it!
I did this technique back in the Winter for a Stamp of the Month Club and the people that purchased the kits really enjoyed it. You can use it for so many different occasions and I was in the need of a baby card (something that I do not do many of) and thought – why not – go ahead and make a diorama card!
Here you go my friends and I am sure that many of you are going to at least go get (2) pieces of paper and cut and score it to see it for yourself! I honestly had no idea where I was going with it – I just knew that I wanted a diorama card and an Elephant from the Zoo Babies Stamp Set.
The bases are 5 ½” X 4 ¼” , (1) in Pool Party and the other in very vanilla
Using the Simply Scored, score each piece at ½”, 1”, 4 ½” & 5”
Now hang tight and don’t get stressed and ruffled….the pictures should help you in case…follow these tips….
We are going to start with the Vanilla Piece…lay it flat in front of you with the scores lines facing you. Fold the right side IN towards the center at the 4 ½” score line…bone fold….then fold the left side of the paper towards the center at the 1” score line and bone fold.
Take the other (2) scored pieces and fold them the opposite way and bone fold…you are DONE….set aside.
Let’s move to the Pool Party piece…at the 4 ½” score line, fold that down towards the back of the card. Do the same on the 1” score line….fold down and to the back…score well.
Now take the other (2) scored line and fold the opposite direction….bone fold and you are DONE….
Are you sprouting some gray hairs???? Just hang tight, it really is easy and once you get it, you’ll do it again and again and your friends are going to think that you are better than sliced bread.
Here is an important part…you can see that there is not much “room for error” when you use the square framelit to cut out the square. (trust me, I messed up a bunch and I am here to still tell the story)… If you have the magnetic platform you will be doing the happy dance as it does make it easier.
You are basically DONE but now all you need to do is decide how to decorate this beauty! As you can see I used the adorable Sweet Li'l Things Designer Series Paper…this is a FABULOUS paper and true you can you it for juvenile projects but there are many prints that I love for us “big girl” cards!
The width measurement that I think works best is 3 3/8” - and here are the measurement that I used for this card.
1. Clouds: 3 3/8” X 2 ½”
2. The piece that I stamped the Elephant on: 3 3/8” X 2 ½” (actually the same as above) I drew a faint pencil line about ¾” up before I stamped it and then I just cut around the Elephant (it was super easy – I did not do his trunk or legs and I thought it turned out cute with no stress!
TIP ALERT: I did use the stamp-a-ma-jig…WHY?????I knew that I might need to stamp multiple times to get a good and deep coverage of the Lost Lagoon….and I am glad that I did – I stamped it 3 times to get this nice rich color.
3. Scrap of Vanilla – 3 3/8” X 1 ½” and then I tore it towards me and then lightly sponged the edges.
The clouds and the torn piece are just adhered with green glue, flat! The Elephant piece I DOUBLED UP on Stampin Dimensionals and just stuck him down! (After I stuck him down I held up the Pool Party piece and realized that I had the Elephant too high as you could see the bottom of the paper….no worries , I was NOT going to rip him off and lower it, I simple added a piece of pool party scrap to the bottom!)
The "Congrats" comes form the Cottage Garden Stamp Set….LOVE this font and then I did a whimsical cut around the sentiment and adhered it with glue dots.
I know that this is a bunch to take in but trust me, it is a super cute card! I have no idea what is up with my camera (I need James to help me as it is obvious that I hit a filter that is making the pictures not the best)
Great news is that tomorrow is a new day and that you are going to love, love…LOVE the simple changes I made – well….do you like this????? It really is super cute and you are going to love this whole technique.
I bet that you are thinking where in the world would you write a message??? Pop back tomorrow and you will see…Have a fabulous day and until tomorrow!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 18, 2015 | Get Well, Simple Saturday |
Good Morning and welcome to Simple Saturday, if you are NEW…WELCOME and if you are OLD….I love seeing you back! On the weekends I do a 2 day posting….Saturday it is a simple card and then Sunday it is the "Stepped up version" of the same card!
You know that I adore Single Stamps… and I fell "head over heels" with this one when I saw it in the catalog. WHY??? Easy-peasy…it is super simple and clean!
It only comes in Wood Mount and you really want this one to be a wood mount as it is a BIG stamp and I think that the wood makes it easier to hold. It is SUPER cute and wow, what an easy card.
Now before we go any further…I need you to trust me on this one – I think that you know by now I would not steer you wrong. Here are some points that I learned while making this.
- It TOTALLY works best if you heart emboss it, today I used very vanilla as the base and then the black embossing power….
- I did try it with the Memento (and the stamp-a-ma-jig) you know me, I need that wonderful piece of plastic….and it truly did not give me the coverage that I was happy with.
- PLAN B – I tried it with the Black Staz On (that poor stamp pad was mad at me as it has been months since I have used that)….and same thing – it was ok but not to my "type A" standards.
So the moral of the story is – heat emboss it! You know that WOW factor that happens when you heat emboss and I also think that the heat embossing makes a dramatic effect!
You know when you heat emboss you use the versamark pad….this image is so easy to "ink up" without inking the heart. I purposefully did not want the heart embossed as I wanted to pop a heart out using the itty bitty accents punches (now please tell me that you have these gems….they are a MUST HAVE).
Before I added the heart to the image, I turned over the embossed part and using the Simply Scored Tool, I scored all the way around….just love that effect.
The bring this sweet card to an end, the liner was from the Pretty Petals Paper Stack – another "keeper" from the new catalog…I love the fact that it works with Very Vanilla.
Many, many thanks for all of the comments yesterday and on Thursday…..last night, I sat in bed with that darn ice on my foot and went back to read the comments and add some to yours.
I apologize but we had a very special friend pass away on Thursday morning. Hannah is flying home today so even though it is at a sad time, as a family we are going to make it a joyous time! In our hearts, we know that our dear friend is at a better place as he has fought a hard battle with cancer.
Please feel free to email me and please remember to share my blog and love for stamping and teaching with your family and friends…I love what I do….and I do hope that you pop back tomorrow….I think you'll smile!
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by Susan Itell | Jul 11, 2015 | Simple Saturday |
It's here…the weekend and that means it is time for a Simple Saturday card for you! Please pop back tomorrow as you will see the "stepped up version" of today's card! Is this a fabulous stamp set or what!
I knew that this stamp set was on the 1st order when the new catalog came out. I was going to use this as a stamp of the month kit but I feel like I have done a bunch of flower ones so you bet that I will be showing you many, many blog posts on this beauty!
This is a very versatile stamp set…WHY???? Well, you can use it as a single stamp (like I did here)…you can double stamp it….with all of the "little goodies of stamps"….(like the leaf and dots) are a perfect "filler" for many cards!
I thought using the black base would make the Bermuda Bay and the Pool Party POP….and I think it did! This card literally took me under 10 minutes – start to finish….an easy-peasy card that you can change up the sentiment and PRESTO – a new card/a new look!
I thought the Bakers Twine was the perfect simple fru-fru that pulled it all together! Pop back tomorrow and I will share with you pictures of the "back-side" of the sentiment so you can see how easy it is to do the "loops"
The multiple strands of bakers twine in a bow is always a hit….just use a glue dot to hold it tight in place!
The speed tools of the circle punches really made this card come together fast. Remember my tip, to build up your punch inventory…..try to add one to each order so that you can get a great collection. We have the best punches on the market and as with all of our products…they are always guaranteed.
Let's talk about this DSP…this was a pack that seeing in the catalog…I liked, but when I received it and started making swatches with it….WOW - I love it….there are some fantastic prints! You know how I feel about Polka Dots….
Another thing that is great about this stamp set is that it makes decorating the front of the envelopes super easy! Just look how cute this is…as my Mom always said, taking a bit more time to add something special goes a long way!
Thanks for popping in today and this is one stamp set that I would definitely add to my craft room…so simple yet so beautiful! It is a photopolymer set and there are "arrows/notches" at the top of the stamps so if you were to "double stamp" you can do it easily.
I am so glad that you all enjoyed seeing another edition of the "Parade of Beauties" – please click here to see the post if you missed it….it is one to "TAKE IN" as there are some fabulous ideas!
Please do not forget that I offer a rewards program that allows you to earn free stamp sets……please click here to see my Download Simple Stampin’ Paw Prints Rewards and if you have any questions, please feel free to email me.
See you tomorrow and see what I have up my sleeve! Enjoy your day….(and I hope that you find the time to get "inky")
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